Why Dan Hurley says UConn’s roster is ‘screaming’ for emergence of Jayden Ross, Jaylin Stewart | The Boneyard
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Why Dan Hurley says UConn’s roster is ‘screaming’ for emergence of Jayden Ross, Jaylin Stewart

HooperScooper

HooperScooper

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From The Hartford Courant.

“What the team is dying for is somebody off the bench, a big wing that can really guard people, play with athleticism, play with length,” Hurley said, noting that the Huskies have scorers up and down the roster despite shots not falling at an ideal rate on Monday. “Jay Ross, I thought he had a much better second half, he settled in. We need him to be a guy whose minutes are where they were tonight. We need him to be a guy that’s in that 15-17 (minute range), he’s making 3s… The roster is screaming for those wings, Jaylin (Stewart) and Jayden to really emerge as guys that can lock up on defense and be productive, big wings.”


The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:
Why Dan Hurley says UConn’s roster is ‘screaming’ for emergence of Jayden Ross, Jaylin Stewart
 
I will reclaim that i am a huge Ross believer. For 2 reasons:

1) Hurley is still so high on him. Dan Hurley dont BS. (And he's clearly top athlete on the team)

2) the sheer number of BYers who have been down on him will spend the 2nd half of the season saying this :
"Im happier than anyone that he's playing well. You cant blame me for not believing in him from what we've seen up to this point"

You will be blamed, receipts will come out, and it will polarize the yard once again. Back to the days where we only argued about the high hedge.
 
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Jaydumo20 said:
I will reclaim that i am a huge Ross believer. For 2 reasons:

1) Hurley is still so high on him. Dan Hurley dont BS. (And he's clearly top 3 athlete on the team)

2) the sheer number of BYers who have been down on him will spend the 2nd half of the season saying this :
"Im happier than anyone that he's playing well. You cant blame me for not believing in him from what we've seen up to this point"

You will be blamed, receipts will come out, and it will polarize the yard once again. Back to the days where we only argued about the high hedge.
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I have receipts ready. The Furphy playing minutes over Ross takes are going to be hilarious to look back at.
 
HooperScooper said:
From The Hartford Courant.

“What the team is dying for is somebody off the bench, a big wing that can really guard people, play with athleticism, play with length,” Hurley said, noting that the Huskies have scorers up and down the roster despite shots not falling at an ideal rate on Monday. “Jay Ross, I thought he had a much better second half, he settled in. We need him to be a guy whose minutes are where they were tonight. We need him to be a guy that’s in that 15-17 (minute range), he’s making 3s… The roster is screaming for those wings, Jaylin (Stewart) and Jayden to really emerge as guys that can lock up on defense and be productive, big wings.”


The RuffRuff Alternate Access™:
Why Dan Hurley says UConn’s roster is ‘screaming’ for emergence of Jayden Ross, Jaylin Stewart
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A lot hinges on it. We become nearly unbeatable if one of them truly emerges and if they both cut down on the space cadet stuff. Jayden Ross has a huge opportunity. We're not an athletic team by our standards and he's really the only one who can provide that combo of athleticism and size at the wing for defensive purposes and some game altering athletic plays. It's his third season, it's now or never for him.
 
Jaydumo20 said:
I will reclaim that i am a huge Ross believer. For 2 reasons:

1) Hurley is still so high on him. Dan Hurley dont BS. (And he's clearly top 3 athlete on the team)

2) the sheer number of BYers who have been down on him will spend the 2nd half of the season saying this :
"Im happier than anyone that he's playing well. You cant blame me for not believing in him from what we've seen up to this point"

You will be blamed, receipts will come out, and it will polarize the yard once again. Back to the days where we only argued about the high hedge.
Expand ...
There's no receipts to collect.
 
I can buy into the Ross breakout on defense because he’s always had the tools, and how he’s older and more experienced. I think he has the effort part down already.

I still don’t know what he does on offense, was the airballed 3 just bad luck? The pull up he took was smooth, but we’re not asking him to take tough mid range jumpers consistently. Are the handles strong enough, and his decision making ready enough, to be a downhill attacker off our DHO sets? Can we put him in the dunker spot when Reibe is on the floor? This problem feels Andre Jacksony, but Andre at least could contribute as a playmaker.
 
Stew's gotten plenty of run the last couple years to try and figure it out, and first exhibition out this season he looked the same - spaced.

I really think of the two, Ross is the guy that brings something unique to the table if he sort things out on defense and plays how he did in the second half. He's long, plays with high energy and has quickness for that length as a perimeter defender. Stew is slow footed and seems to always be in the wrong place.

I just don't know what compliment Stew brings to this team other than simply bench depth at the 4. We don't need additional scoring on the wing on this team. Really discouraging in the exhibition to see him take a ball to the rim really well, then stand around looking to hoist threes most of the rest of his time. Stew should never be taking 5 threes. He's not that good a shooter and it's really not why we need him.
 
If Stewart can play defense like he did freshman year (or hopefully a little better) or Ross can play defense like the 2nd half of the BC game then there's a clear path to additional minutes for both. Stewart is going to play regardless because of his offense, but the defensive side is what's going to keep either of them on the court.

I made the mistake of counting on a big jump from Stewart last year, not making that mistake again based on preseason comments. So put me in as I'll believe it when I see it in games for both of them
 
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Ross was a +26, which is insane. You could see how active he was defensively and how the energy shifted every time he checked in.

Playing time is one thing, but being empowered is another. They need to run some sets for Ross and Stewart — with their athleticism and Stewart’s efficiency in the paint, you’d expect more DHO actions to get to the rim.

They’ve drawn up alley-oop sets for Jackson and Castle — why not give Ross a few of those opportunities as well?
 
Huskyforlife said:
I can buy into the Ross breakout on defense because he’s always had the tools, and how he’s older and more experienced. I think he has the effort part down already.

I still don’t know what he does on offense, was the airballed 3 just bad luck? The pull up he took was smooth, but we’re not asking him to take tough mid range jumpers consistently. Are the handles strong enough, and his decision making ready enough, to be a downhill attacker off our DHO sets? Can we put him in the dunker spot when Reibe is on the floor? This problem feels Andre Jacksony, but Andre at least could contribute as a playmaker.
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He was clearly nervous as all hell in the first half which caused that airball.

He seemed to settle in more in the second half. It’s all mental for him.

Everything with Ross has to do with confidence. All of these abilities are there.
 
aboogieee said:
Ross was a +26, which is insane. You could see how active he was defensively and how the energy shifted every time he checked in.

Playing time is one thing, but being empowered is another. They need to run some sets for Ross and Stewart — with their athleticism and Stewart’s efficiency in the paint, you’d expect more DHO actions to get to the rim.

They’ve drawn up alley-oop sets for Jackson and Castle — why not give Ross a few of those opportunities as well?
Expand ...
Where did this guy come from? I like him.
 
RuffRuff said:
Stew's gotten plenty of run the last couple years to try and figure it out, and first exhibition out this season he looked the same - spaced.

I really think of the two, Ross is the guy that brings something unique to the table if he sort things out on defense and plays how he did in the second half. He's long, plays with high energy and has quickness for that length as a perimeter defender. Stew is slow footed and seems to always be in the wrong place.

I just don't know what compliment Stew brings to this team other than simply bench depth at the 4. We don't need additional scoring on the wing on this team. Really discouraging in the exhibition to see him take a ball to the rim really well, then stand around looking to hoist threes most of the rest of his time. Stew should never be taking 5 threes. He's not that good a shooter and it's really not why we need him.
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In theory I agree with you, it's why I singled out Ross. He has the physical profile of what we need because he's quicker and more athletic than Jaylin. He looks like he could be a great defender who could provide us much needed versatility defensively and athletically but he was actually probably our worst defender last season. Jaylin is more offensively gifted but this is already an offensively gifted team and we don't need him hoisting. I would much rather see him be a guy who operates mid-range/closer to the basket and get us those tough twos when things break down or we aren't hitting from three. His problem is he simply isn't focused nearly enough on defense and he can't stay in front of fast guys on the perimeter. With that being said...

Jaylin has at least given us some good performances scoring the ball against tough opponents like Creighton, Marquette, Memphis, Nova (both offensively and defensively.) Jayden has yet to give us a good performance against a tough opponent in his career.

The way I look at it is Jayden is the more important player because of need but he's also the bigger question mark because he's really yet to do anything here so far in the actual games.
 
HW611 said:
He was clearly nervous as all hell in the first half which caused that airball.

He seemed to settle in more in the second half. It’s all mental for him.

Everything with Ross has to do with confidence. All of these abilities are there.
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You're not at all concerned about getting out over your skis based on one half of an exhibition game? Of course you're not.
 
superjohn said:
In theory I agree with you, it's why I singled out Ross. He has the physical profile of what we need because he's quicker and more athletic than Jaylin. He looks like he could be a great defender who could provide us much needed versatility defensively and athletically but he was actually probably our worst defender last season. Jaylin is more offensively gifted but this is already an offensively gifted team and we don't need him hoisting. I would much rather see him be a guy who operates mid-range/closer to the basket and get us those tough twos when things break down or we aren't hitting from three. His problem is he simply isn't focused nearly enough on defense and he can't stay in front of fast guys on the perimeter. With that being said...

Jaylin has at least given us some good performances scoring the ball against tough opponents like Creighton, Marquette, Memphis, Nova (both offensively and defensively.) Jayden has yet to give us a good performance against a tough opponent in his career.

The way I look at it is Jayden is the more important player because of need but he's also the bigger question mark because he's really yet to do anything here so far in the actual games.
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Jaylin was also great defensive player against Seton Hall at home, Arkansas and Florida in the tourney. When he has his head in the game and is playing hard on d he is good. Problem is like the BC game there are too many games where he just floats around on D as if he is conserving energy to play on Offense or something. Hurley definitely lit his fire end of last year and it showed but it looks like it have to be ignited again for him to show it. Really weird since I thought Jaylin was coming back to start and not be a little used reserve. Ross is not a player I rate. Good kid and hustles on D but just doesnt have the basketball skills from what I see too make it. I think we might see a lot of 3 guard sets with this team as I dont see either Jaylin ot Jayden playing much unless something changes drastically with their games.
 
aboogieee said:
Ross was a +26, which is insane. You could see how active he was defensively and how the energy shifted every time he checked in.

Playing time is one thing, but being empowered is another. They need to run some sets for Ross and Stewart — with their athleticism and Stewart’s efficiency in the paint, you’d expect more DHO actions to get to the rim.

They’ve drawn up alley-oop sets for Jackson and Castle — why not give Ross a few of those opportunities as well?
Expand ...
During the post game interview with the media Hurley indicated they would like to give Ross 12-17 minutes and if he could make threes up to 20.

I’m going to sound like HW but if Ross is asked to remain stationary on one or the other wings while the other players are running various plays and ignoring him it’s unlikely he’s going to get over the hump. He’s a kid that by nature defers. This would have been a good game for the staff to give him a green light to shoot threes given that if he missed them he would have looked like the rest of the team.
 
Jaydumo20 said:
I will reclaim that i am a huge Ross believer. For 2 reasons:

1) Hurley is still so high on him. Dan Hurley dont BS. (And he's clearly top athlete on the team)

2) the sheer number of BYers who have been down on him will spend the 2nd half of the season saying this :
"Im happier than anyone that he's playing well. You cant blame me for not believing in him from what we've seen up to this point"

You will be blamed, receipts will come out, and it will polarize the yard once again. Back to the days where we only argued about the high hedge.
Expand ...
Tarris was said to be the best athlete.

Ross - I've believed in him 2x now and a train to nowhere is the result. If we get his second half all year long, great, but fool me twice....
 
Huskybass said:
IF it ever really clicks for Stewart, watch out! If Stewart and Ross both contribute meaningfully this season, the team's ceiling is very high. I have to say that despite being skeptical on Ross, he looked MUCH better in the exhibition than in the past.
Expand ...
My greatest imagination for them would be like a pair of Rudy Gay type players. That would be an unstoppable rotation.
 

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